2020-02-16 - When Friends Help Friends

(TXT to Easton) Bennie : Checking in.

(TXT to Bennie) Easton : Me? I'm good. Sober. De La Vega is a hot mess, chained up in Itz's room in the non-sexy, possibly murderous way. You?

(TXT to Easton) Bennie : That man has the worst luck.

(TXT to Easton) Bennie : I'm surviving.

(TXT to Easton) Bennie : You should visit me. Bring me some of my stash.

(TXT to Bennie) Easton : Agreed. And I'm glad. You're not allowed to die.

(TXT to Bennie) Easton : You mean weed, right?

(TXT to Easton) Bennie : I need a pill Easton. Just one.

(TXT to Bennie) Easton : I know babe. But no.

(TXT to Bennie) Easton : But I can bring over some booze and watch you drink it and you can watch me sweat?

(TXT to Easton) Bennie : I can't concentrate. Everything is so difficult. Please, baby. I can't think.

(TXT to Bennie) Easton : I can offer you a massage while I wear my new tiny camouflage speedo? But no pill.

(TXT to Easton) Bennie : I hate you so much right now.

(TXT to Bennie) Easton : I know. That's ok

(TXT to Easton) Bennie : It's just one pill. I won't screw anything up. I'll feel good and then I'll make you feel good.

(TXT to Bennie) Easton : Where's Alexander? I'm not trying to be a hypocritical ass, honestly. I know I just got shitfaced the other night, but I want you to do better?

(TXT to Easton) Bennie : He's just outside, but I can sneak you in the window.

(TXT to Bennie) Easton : No. No sneaking. You want to take one, that's fine, but you need to tell him that straight to his face.

(TXT to Easton) Bennie : Baby, please.

(TXT to Bennie) Easton : I love you. No.

(TXT to Easton) Bennie : Fine. I get it. You don't care. If you cared, you'd help me.

(TXT to Bennie) Easton : So you're fine if I bring a bottle of whiskey and we make it a party?

(TXT to Easton) Bennie : You're an ass. You had your cheat day but I can't have mine?

(TXT to Bennie) Easton : Because I don't believe you want to? I think you feel like you need it. But honestly. Is this what you want?

(TXT to Easton) Bennie : Please please. I'm not on my knees now, but I'd be the second you showed up.

(TXT to Bennie) Easton : It's a good thing you asked Alexander to help you do this, not me. I'm going to text him and then shut off my phone. Babe, honestly, I love you.

(TXT to Easton) Bennie : Seriously?!

(TXT to Easton) Bennie : Easton.

(TXT to Easton) Bennie : Baby.

(TXT to Easton) Bennie : Goddammit.

(TXT to Bennie) Easton : (...)s

(TXT to Easton) Bennie : ...please...

(TXT to Bennie) Easton : (...)s coming and going

(TXT to Alexander) Easton : Alexander. Bennie's begging me for a pill. Is there anything you can do?

(TXT to Alexander) Easton : I'm weak and stupid and about to agree.

(TXT to Easton) Bennie : Answer me, Easton

(TXT to Bennie) Easton : I'm sorry. No.

(TXT to Alexander) Easton : You're right. Thank you.

(TXT to Easton) Bennie : FUCK IT

(TXT to Bennie) Easton : You can do this. It sucks right now, but then you'll get through it and onto the other side.

(TXT to Easton) Bennie : i can't

(TXT to Easton) Alexander : I'm sorry. It hurts. You have to be an asshole about it.

(TXT to Easton) Bennie : i can't do this

(TXT to Alexander) Easton : She's my asshole kryptonite. Anyone else? Fuck 'em.

(TXT to Bennie) Easton : You can.

(TXT to Easton) Bennie : i'm tired

(TXT to Bennie) Easton : I know babe. Try to get some rest.

(TXT to Easton) Bennie : okay

(TXT to Alexander) Easton : Seriously. Thank you for doing this brother.

(TXT to Alexander) Easton : Have you talked with Itzhak at all? De La Vega's in a bad way.

(TXT to Easton) Alexander : I havent. what's wrong? Is he detoxing too?

(TXT to Alexander) Easton : No, he's possessed by something, or controlled by someone? It's like Gohl, but not the same.

(TXT to Easton) Alexander : fuck

(TXT to Alexander) Easton : Does "the man in the bowler hat" mean anything to you? It's all I got out of him.

(TXT to Easton) Alexander : FUCK.

(TXT to Alexander) Easton : I assume that's a yes

(TXT to Easton) Alexander : Peregrine. Asshole Dark Cultist who feeds on despair and is a horrifically powerful empath.

(TXT to Easton) Bennie : i love you i'm sorry

(TXT to Bennie) Easton : Sorry about what?

(TXT to Easton) Bennie : not being strng

(TXT to Bennie) Easton : You're plenty damn strong.

(TXT to Alexander) Easton : Okay to quote him, something about getting trapped in a dream by him and this dude making him forget? He's not himself.

(TXT to Easton) Bennie : just a few more days then u can hold me

(TXT to Alexander) Easton : You can feel emotions right? Bennie's not going to hurt herself? Right?

(TXT to Bennie) Easton : Can't come soon enough

(TXT to Easton) Alexander : When she gets that way, I push her out of it. q

(TXT to Alexander) Easton : Ok. fuck I need to not think about that.

(TXT to Easton) Alexander : I might be able to help Javier. I think i can change memories now. If i can identify the damage, maybe I can put it right.

(TXT to Alexander) Easton : Ok. We need to figure out how to break the control first. He's chained up at Itzhie's

(TXT to Easton) Bennie : gnight bb

(TXT to Bennie) Easton : Gnight. You got this.

(TXT to Easton) Alexander : im not sure he'd control him. not in the way...it wouldn't mean anything if Javier weren't in control. But if you remove pieces of a person, sometimes whats left is dangerous.

(TXT to Alexander) Easton : Maybe. Whatever's going on it's dangerous for sure.

(TXT to Easton) Alexander : okay. i'll try to talk to itzhak. i'll try to be of help. i don't know how much i can be. i killed isabella.

(TXT to Alexander) Easton : WHAT

(TXT to Alexander) Easton : What the hell do you mean?!

(TXT to Isabella) Easton : Hey, what the hell is Alexander talking about?

(TXT to Easton) Alexander : we got lost. i didn't know she was the real isabella. I had to kill her to get out. I rmember snapping her neck. she's alive in the here but I REMEMBEER.

(TXT to Alexander) Bennie : I think it's time for the restraints.

(TXT to Isabella) Easton : Now is not a good time to not pick up your phone hot scotch.

(TXT to Alexander) Easton : She's alive?

(TXT to Easton) Alexander : yes. but i hurt her. And i ran away.

(TXT to Isabella) Easton : Shit. He's messed up by it.

(TXT to Easton) Isabella : I know.

(TXT to Alexander) Easton : Okay. So apologize.

(TXT to Isabella) Easton : You ok?

(TXT to Easton) Isabella : I tried not to...he wanted to get away from me.

(TXT to Easton) Alexander : no. i didn't know the right reality and i almost killed her. im dangerous. ill only hurt her.

(TXT to Alexander) Easton : We're all dangerous pupcake

(TXT to Easton) Isabella : Honestly? I wish I won. Not like it would've been any easier if I had. I don't know what that would have done to me. But I would have been willing to carry that weight if it would have spared him.

(TXT to Alexander) Bennie : Make me sleep.

(TXT to Isabella) Easton : I understand. I'll slap him upside the head tho, we'll get him through it.

(TXT to Easton) Isabella : I'm sorry this spilled into your doorstep.

(TXT to Easton) Isabella : You have your own thing to fix.

(TXT to Isabella) Easton : Fuck your sorries. He's currently keeping watch over Bennie.

(TXT to Easton) Isabella : I know. He's good like that.

(TXT to Easton) Isabella : Take care of him? I have to...I don't know.

(TXT to Isabella) Easton : I will. What do you need tho?

(TXT to Alexander) Easton : I nearly killed Bennie in this world. She forgave me. You two can come back from this.

(TXT to Easton) Alexander : i wasnt under the influence of anything. that was just me. its always just me.

(TXT to Easton) Alexander : i can't talk about it right now. i have to shackle bennie to a bed. are you doing okay? you're trying something hard yourself.

(TXT to Easton) Isabella : I don't know. I can't feel anything. My own bed, maybe. I think I need sleep. I still need to start packing, I...my defense is in two weeks.

(TXT to Isabella) Easton : lmk if I can help. I'll check in tomorrow.

(TXT to Easton) Isabella : I'll be okay. Thanks, E.

(TXT to Alexander) Easton : ok. Don't beat yourself up. They are trying to put us in terrible situations to torture us. Turns out they're just really good at fucking with you. And thank you again for watching over Bennie.

(TXT to Easton) Alexander : maybe I'm just bad. and i don't mind. she's my friend. and knows a surprising number of entertaining swears.

(TXT to Bennie) Alexander : All right. Shackles and then sleep. You won't feel better in the morning. but you'll fee better eventually.

(TXT to Alexander) Bennie : promises promises

(TXT to Bennie) Alexander : ill sing you a lullaby, if you want.

(TXT to Alexander) Bennie : Bedtime story at least. When I can't claw your eyes out.

(TXT to Alexander) Easton : You're not bad.

(TXT to Bennie) Alexander : itll involve murder. you know that.

(TXT to Easton) Alexander : im not good. its okay, though. i know that. you avoided the question. how are you doing

(TXT to Alexander) Bennie : I solve crimes best when I'm out of my mind.

(TXT to Alexander) Easton : Sober. Pissed as hell that all these people i care about are in these shit situations and I can do fuck all about it

(TXT to Bennie) Alexander : excellent.

(TXT to Easton) Alexander : you're a good guy. i hope you know that.

(TXT to Alexander) Easton : ? Not sure why you're kinder to me than yourself. You need to fix that.

(TXT to Easton) Alexander : (...)

(TXT to Easton) Alexander : i don't think its aproblem. but we'll survive all this mess. be on the look out for Peregrine. Tall, dapper, apparently in his fifties, genteel. wears obsidian lensed glasses. don't know what's underneath them.

(TXT to Alexander) Easton : It is. You get pissed when you're friends shit talk themselves. Welcome to the reverse. I'll be careful, I'm murder-sitting Javi. Itzhak's useless at it. I may not be able to say no to Bennie, but I can sure as shit tell him that.

(TXT to Easton) Alexander : careful. JAVIER is tricksy.

(TXT to Alexander) Easton : I know. So's Bennie, in her way 😉

(TXT to Easton) Alexander : She is. I'm lucky that she doesn't seem to turn to her abilities even under pressure or I'd probably be dead.

(TXT to Alexander) Easton : Probably. Good luck! 😃